The Inside Line Podcast - Vital MTB

Virtual press conference recorded on April 21 to discuss the upcoming World Cup Downhill season with Loic Bruni, Jackson Goldstone, Luca Shaw, Vali Holl, Gracey Hemstreet and Tahnee Seagrave.

Schroeder, Spomer and Lars get back together to discuss big wheels and weird bikes taking over.

00:00 Reflections on Sea Otter 2026
09:59 The Future of Wheel Sizes
13:09 What's In and What's Out
34:52 Innovations in Mountain Bike Technology
42:09 Health Scares and Personal Stories
44:00 - Neko Mulally and his Sea Otter Winner 32"
59:15 Exploring the 32-Inch Wheel Debate
01:19:56 World Cup Predictions and Insights
01:23:09 Logistics of Racing in New Venues
01:25:03 Vital DH Fantasy Poll

This episode features an in-depth discussion on the latest trends and innovations in mountain biking, including the impact of 32-inch wheels, the evolution of bike technology, and insights from Sea Otter. The hosts share their experiences, analyze new bike models, and explore the future of mountain biking industry trends. This episode dives into the latest in downhill mountain biking, exploring innovative bike setups, track strategies, and predictions for upcoming World Cup races. Guests share insights on gear choices, track conditions, and the evolving technology shaping the sport.

Key Topics
Impact of 32-inch wheels on mountain biking
Innovations in bike technology and design
Industry trends and event insights from Sea Otter Bike setup innovations including wheel size and suspension
Track strategies and course modifications for competitive advantage
Predictions and insights for upcoming World Cup races

Sponsel loses so you can win.

I's been a busy few months since the last podcast—Jason went to New Zealand and Italy, Tanner has been to nearly all 50 states working different shoots and projects, and Dakotah has bounced between Europe and Tennessee as he feverishly tests every setup under the sun. 
We covered a lot of this show, including Dak's crash at the Tennessee National, getting outside of the box with setup, Reece Wilson's crazy stem/bar combo, gym training vs. on-bike training, and goals at the first World Cup. But mostly, we caught up on life because we don't see each other enough these days, and the podcast is the perfect excuse to banter and hang out. We hope you enjoy!

Today we talk with Matt Thompson and Steve Wentz who just returned from Masters World Champs downhill in Chile. Matt took the rainbow stripes in the 50-55 Master C2 class and Steve landed a Top 10 in a stacked field of “younger” talent, most importantly beating Ben Deakin in the process.

We dive into what Masters World Champs is, learn about their experiences with the event over the years and dig into the full story of this years’ race. As a bonus, they both came home in one piece.